Pavee Point have campaigned for a revised progressive and inclusive National Traveller Roma Integration Strategy since 2012 when Ireland’s first strategy was developed. A strategy should incorporate the recommendations of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020; and the 10 Common Basic Principles on Roma Inclusion. This should include:

Achievable national goals with targets for Traveller and Roma inclusion. These goals should address, as a minimum, the four EU Roma integration goals relating to access to education, employment, healthcare and housing;

Actions to explicitly address racism towards Roma and Travellers and include measures to address gender inequality; and

The Department of Justice and Equality set up a steering group for a National Traveller Roma Inclusion Strategy in 2015 which is chaired by Minister Ó Ríordáin. This body is responsible for revising the National Traveller Roma Inclusion Strategy. This consists of departmental representatives and Traveller and Roma civil society representatives. This is the first national policy forum with Roma representation. Pavee Point are represented on this group. We undertake the following actions:

Make recommendations for the content of Ireland’s National Traveller Roma Inclusion Strategy

Make annual submissions to the European Commission as part of its assessment of National Roma Strategies